Match reportLFC Women edged out by Manchester City in Melwood pre-season friendly

Matt Beard’s side took the lead in the opening half via Marie Höbinger, though the visitors earned a slender victory on Merseyside after goals from Lauren Hemp and Jess Park following the interval.

As a mark of respect following the passing of former Liverpool captain Ron Yeats, both sets of players wore black armbands throughout the fixture.

Höbinger was involved in the early exchanges of the friendly contest, splitting the defence with a neat pass to release Lucy Parry down the right. She crossed for Sophie Roman Haug, whose header was off target.

A short while later, visiting goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita cleared to Ceri Holland, but the resulting effort was well saved by the stopper from a tight angle.

The Reds had defended well throughout but were almost caught after losing possession in their own half, leaving Hemp to deliver a dangerous ball, which was cleared by the retreating Taylor Hinds.

Ahead of the break, Höbinger broke the deadlock after good work from Holland created the danger from the right flank. Summer arrival Cornelia Kapocs was in the right place at the right time to find her teammate with a first-time pass, leaving Höbinger to expertly net thanks to a low finish into the bottom corner.

City almost equalised minutes later, though goalkeeper Teagan Micah produced an impressive stop from Hemp.

Following the change of ends, City levelled just six minutes into the second half as Aoba Fujino crossed into the box for Hemp to score.

Micah then produced another strong save, but the away team took the lead on the hour mark courtesy of Park, with Fujino breaking through to leave her teammate with a tap-in.

Mia Enderby and Leanne Kiernan were introduced from the bench in an attacking response and the pair caused immediate problems for the Reds.

With 12 minutes remaining, Liverpool worked their best chance to level, Fuka Nagano finding Jasmine Matthews at the back post, who saw her volley into the box land with Zara Shaw, though her resulting effort deflected wide of the mark.

LFC Women: Micah, Hinds (Matthews, 60), Evans, Bonner (Fahey, 46), Clark, Parry (Daniels, 46), Höbinger (Lundgaard, 60), Holland (Shaw, 75), Nagano, Kapocs (Kiernan, 68), Roman H. (Enderby, 68).

Unused subs: Laws, Spencer.

• Get your tickets to see the Reds' friendly v Everton in St Helens on September 15